Rattlesnake Grass Briza maxima
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Briza major
- Phonetic Spelling
- BRIH-za MAKS-ih-mah
- Description
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This summer grass needs well-drained soil and does best in poor soil. It is good for dried arrangements and is also sold as Briza major. This plant has open, puffy, overlapping, scale-like seeds and is reddish-brown or tan, touched with green. This plant may be confused with Briza Minor although it is easily distinguishable because Briza Minor is smaller in size.
Invasive in California
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Briza
- Species:
- maxima
- Family:
- Poaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Native to Europe, North & South Africa, and Asia
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- poor soil
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Caryopsis
- Fruit Description:
- One fruit may be a covered with a thin pericarp or an utricle with the seed being free.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The two-part leaf has a sheath and a blade, narrow or broad, and the size is variable up to 16 feet long.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Poor Soil
